Lawyers, accountants and engineers must have formal qualifications, so why not CEOs? A new program offering Certified CEO status promises to help bosses and future bosses make a real bottom-line difference to their businesses.
The CEO Institute has partnered with Mt Eliza Executive Education to create a program it hopes will become the gold standard for professional recognition of people who lead organisations across the Asia Pacific region. The Certified CEO (CCEO) Program has its first intake of CEOs from October.
Program director Esmé Alfred, said while The CEO Institute was not advocating that formal qualifications should be compulsory, there were clear advantages for those who do opt for formal accreditation. “High quality accreditation boosts CEO self confidence and capabilities. Combining accreditation with the CEO’s life experience can positively impact the success and sustainability of a business,” she says.
Not everyone agrees though. Stephen Collins, founder of acidlabs, says: “A certification in no way reflects actual capacity for the job, certainly not on soft skills.”
Phoebe Netto, managing director of Good Business Consulting, adds: “Their experience, qualifications, proven ability, connections and attitude should be enough.”
The CCEO Program’s first intake is expected to include current and newly appointed CEOs, as well as COOs and CFOs aspiring to the top office and other leaders identified by their organisations for future CEO roles.
“Many current and aspiring CEOs are time-poor and cost-conscious,” Alfred says. “Our Certified CEO Program is cost-effective and will run over 12-to-15 months, with a 17-day contact program that really provides leaders with today’s required skills, knowledge and background, as well as future thinking. CCEO encourages strong reflection on a CEO’s own business, so they will come out of the program with professional and personal development and a plan for their business to shift strategies so that there is a real benefit to the bottom line.”
Find out more at www.ceo.com.au
What do you think? Should CEOs bother with formal qualifications?
